California Business and Professions Code Section 6068

6068. It is the duty of an attorney to do all of the following:

(a) To support the Constitution and laws of the United States and

of this state.

(b) To maintain the respect due to the courts of justice and

judicial officers.

only as appear to him or her legal or just, except the defense of a

person charged with a public offense.

(d) To employ, for the purpose of maintaining the causes confided

to him or her those means only as are consistent with truth, and

never to seek to mislead the judge or any judicial officer by an

artifice or false statement of fact or law.

(e) (1) To maintain inviolate the confidence, and at every peril

to himself or herself to preserve the secrets, of his or her client.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an attorney may, but is not

required to, reveal confidential information relating to the

representation of a client to the extent that the attorney reasonably

believes the disclosure is necessary to prevent a criminal act that

the attorney reasonably believes is likely to result in death of, or

substantial bodily harm to, an individual.

(f) To advance no fact prejudicial to the honor or reputation of a

party or witness, unless required by the justice of the cause with

which he or she is charged.

(g) Not to encourage either the commencement or the continuance of

an action or proceeding from any corrupt motive of passion or

interest.

(h) Never to reject, for any consideration personal to himself or

herself, the cause of the defenseless or the oppressed.

(i) To cooperate and participate in any disciplinary investigation

or other regulatory or disciplinary proceeding pending against

himself or herself. However, this subdivision shall not be construed

to deprive an attorney of any privilege guaranteed by the Fifth

Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, or any other

constitutional or statutory privileges. This subdivision shall not be

construed to require an attorney to cooperate with a request that

requires him or her to waive any constitutional or statutory

privilege or to comply with a request for information or other

matters within an unreasonable period of time in light of the time

constraints of the attorney's practice. Any exercise by an attorney

of any constitutional or statutory privilege shall not be used

against the attorney in a regulatory or disciplinary proceeding

against him or her.

(j) To comply with the requirements of Section 6002.1.

(k) To comply with all conditions attached to any disciplinary

probation, including a probation imposed with the concurrence of the

attorney.

(l) To keep all agreements made in lieu of disciplinary

prosecution with the agency charged with attorney discipline.

(m) To respond promptly to reasonable status inquiries of clients

and to keep clients reasonably informed of significant developments

in matters with regard to which the attorney has agreed to provide

legal services.

(n) To provide copies to the client of certain documents under

time limits and as prescribed in a rule of professional conduct which

the board shall adopt.

(o) To report to the agency charged with attorney discipline, in

writing, within 30 days of the time the attorney has knowledge of any

of the following:

(1) The filing of three or more lawsuits in a 12-month period

against the attorney for malpractice or other wrongful conduct

committed in a professional capacity.

(2) The entry of judgment against the attorney in a civil action

for fraud, misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, or gross

negligence committed in a professional capacity.

(3) The imposition of judicial sanctions against the attorney,

except for sanctions for failure to make discovery or monetary

sanctions of less than one thousand dollars ($1,000).

(4) The bringing of an indictment or information charging a felony

against the attorney.

(5) The conviction of the attorney, including any verdict of

guilty, or plea of guilty or no contest, of a felony, or a

misdemeanor committed in the course of the practice of law, or in a

manner in which a client of the attorney was the victim, or a

necessary element of which, as determined by the statutory or common

law definition of the misdemeanor, involves improper conduct of an

attorney, including dishonesty or other moral turpitude, or an

attempt or a conspiracy or solicitation of another to commit a felony

or a misdemeanor of that type.

(6) The imposition of discipline against the attorney by a

professional or occupational disciplinary agency or licensing board,

whether in California or elsewhere.

(7) Reversal of judgment in a proceeding based in whole or in part

upon misconduct, grossly incompetent representation, or willful

misrepresentation by an attorney.

(8) As used in this subdivision, "against the attorney" includes

claims and proceedings against any firm of attorneys for the practice

of law in which the attorney was a partner at the time of the

conduct complained of and any law corporation in which the attorney

was a shareholder at the time of the conduct complained of unless the

matter has to the attorney's knowledge already been reported by the

law firm or corporation.

(9) The State Bar may develop a prescribed form for the making of

reports required by this section, usage of which it may require by

rule or regulation.

(10) This subdivision is only intended to provide that the failure

to report as required herein may serve as a basis of discipline.